Wednesday, March 24, 2010

John Heard, Candidate for District 4 Commissioner, To Conduct Listening Tour

John Heard, candidate for District 4 Commissioner, announced a listening tour to meet with neighborhood groups across the district to share his ideas for improving Gwinnett, and to listen to neighborhood concerns.
“Elected officials must be accessible and accountable to the voters. My focus in these meetings will be to share my ideas and goals for Gwinnett and to listen to the voters on the issues that are most important to them,” Heard stated.

Butch Poss, Collins Hill community leader and Chairman of John Heard’s campaign, is excited about helping to lead the effort. “I share John’s passion for service, and I look forward to helping to organize these events. District four needs a commissioner who is accessible and accountable to the voters. We need someone who will listen to our concerns, and John vowed to be that voice for district four.”
The listening tour will take place over several months, as John Heard campaigns throughout district four.

“When I served in the state house of representatives, I never forgot that I worked for the voters of Gwinnett. When a voter called or emailed me with a question, I got back to them personally. I look forward to meeting voters across the district to share my ideas and listen to their needs,” said Heard.

If you would like to include your neighborhood group in the listening tour, please call John Heard at 770-845-5555, or email John at john@johnheard.org. Please also visit the website at www.johnheard.org.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

John Heard, District 4 Commissioner Candidate, Announces Team

John Heard, District 4 Commissioner Candidate, Announces Team

Lawrenceville, GA – John Heard, candidate for District 4 commissioner, announced his campaign team in his race for the District 4 Commissioner seat. John Heard previously named Butch Poss as his Campaign Chairman, and recently assembled the remaining positions on his team.

“I am excited to announce my campaign team that brings experience, energy, and a clear understanding of the back-to-basics government we need”, Heard said. “We look forward to earning the votes of the citizens of Gwinnett.”

John Heard named Jim Elgar to serve as his campaign manager, and John Davis to lead his online network. Christopher Harris will serve as the liaison to the Chamber of Commerce.

“I am honored to be a part of John’s team, “said Elgar. “We are moving quickly to let voters know that there is only one person who will bring accountability and common sense back to Gwinnett government, and that man is John Heard”.

“I have a track record of proven, effective leadership from my time serving in the state house, as well as in my 30 years as a small businessman,” Heard stated. “I look forward to continuing my service to the citizens of Gwinnett.”

John and his wife Debbie have been married 32 years, and are members of Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church. John has served on the Lawrenceville Downtown Development Authority since 1993, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Lake Lanier Association. John is also a member of Rotary and Lawrenceville Kiwanis, as well as a previous member of the Board of Lawrenceville Softball Association

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Government Must Live Within Its Means, 3/21/2010

While we await the vote in Congress on Health Care, there are many critical issues here in Gwinnett. These include budget deficits, high unemployment, and a failing economy.

Underlying these issues is the fact that everyone is suffering economically. Many have lost their jobs while others have seen their life savings evaporate. We are in trouble on all levels of government. At the federal level, they are spending money we do not have, getting deeper and deeper in debt to foreign countries. The State of Georgia has an ever increasing budget deficit that only deep, deep cuts will address. Here in Gwinnett, we have seen lower and lower revenues coming from ever decreasing property values.

The Gwinnett County Commission chose to increase the millage rate to offset these falling values. The tax payer has no ability to increase their income by artificial adjustments. WE must simply bear the burden.
It is time that government does the same thing we are doing at home and in our businesses: DO WITHOUT. The leaders must decide what is critical to the citizens of this county and cut out those things that are not. Priorities are already established by monitoring the usage of each service or facility the county provides.

The county must stop duplicating services with the cities. Rather than filing a lawsuit and fighting over who gets more than their share of service funding, the county should forward to the cities their funds to provide the critical services they see fit inside their city limits.

Lastly, WE MUST bring jobs to our county. The county must think "outside of the box" to provide incentives beyond any other city, county, or state. This will attract the businesses that are starting, relocating, or downsizing, and bring them to Gwinnett. These new businesses will fill the county revenue needs; fill the empty offices, retail locations, and factories. Then, Gwinnett will once again be able to honestly say "Gwinnett is Great".

John Heard

Welcome to Vote Gwinnett 2010

Welcome to Vote Gwinnett 2010, a place you can voice your opinions on things happening in Gwinnett County. Whether you want to talk politics, your concerns, the good things in Gwinnett or what you would like changed, speak your mind. Communication is the key to improving Gwinnett and your voice is important. I look forward to disucssing the issues with you.